by beaujest4 » Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:02 am
While the old lux was great for around the Coffs area and I have had a great time playing, to try and do any longer trips, even just overnights, the lux has big limitations. With a view to getting into doing more trips and longer trips, something capable of being primarily a tourer, but still hard enough to have a play, the search was on for a vehicle.
There were a couple of core requirements we agreed for the vehicle, basically a turbo diesel auto wagon. Pretty simple really.
After going around the yards and checking different makes and models of vehicles (yes we even tried Nissans, Pajeros and others), going for test drives and even checking mates vehicles we both agreed on a 2003 model 100 Series would be ideal. From there we sat down and started doing the sums on setting it up to what we wanted and what $$$ would be needed to do so.
We quickly realised the 100 was getting out of our budget, especially if we wanted a vehicle we could use straight up. We decided the 100 will have to wait and fell back to our second choice of vehicle, an 80 Series.
The search began hunting for a HDJ80R that would suit our needs. After many months of trolling the internet we found this one. A pretty comprehensive list of extras, well on the way to being a very well wet up tourer that could be customised to suit our specific needs and wants.
From text messages and phone calls and with the help of Griz taking time out of his very busy schedule (roster) to take a trip up to Sydney town to check it out for me, we all agreed this was the truck for us. With finance sorted and an acceptable price agreed on the deal was done. Griz just could not help himself and Deb and Kim they drove up to Sydney again to collect the 80 for me.
Which brings me to now. I am sitting at Scrub Turkey's, house sitting for them while they are off holidaying in sunny Queensland while it has rained every day since they left, and Griz gets to enjoy our 80. We maybe not. Griz picked it up yesterday and I get a phone call from the guy I bought it off, saying he was going to put some diesel in it for me, and it would not start. He thought it was just the battery and got onto NRMA and just before Griz arrives the 80 is diagnosed to have a shot starter motor. Further phone calls and talking to the previous owner when Griz arrives and with a bigger hammer the start works and all is good.
While Griz has our 80 we have arranged to get some things done to it, which now includes a starter motor, which the previous owner has said he would pay for. I must admit the previous owner, Mark, sounds like a good bloke and we hope to meet up sometime and maybe even go for a bit of 4wd sometime.